Female fighters and the fates of rebellions: How mobilizing women influences conflict duration

Abstract

We investigate the potential relationship between female combatants and conflict duration. We contend that recruiting female combatants extends war duration via its influence on state–rebel bargaining. The recruitment and deployment of female combatants contribute to divergent perspectives between the rebels and the incumbent regarding the rebel group’s capabilities and the depth of its resolve, which impedes successful bargaining and extends the duration of the conflict. Results from duration analyses using data on the estimated prevalence of female combatants in rebel groups active between 1964 and 2011 support our central hypothesis and suggest that the use of female fighters is associated with longer conflicts.

Female combatants and rebel group behaviour: Evidence from Nepal

“…Because better relations with civilians should increase the availability of committed recruits, women's participation may even have an indirect positive effect on rebels’ overall ability to fight in the long run. As such, the results presented here provide insights into why rebel groups including women may be harder to defeat (Braithwaite and Ruiz, 2018; Giri and Haer, 2021; Wood and Allemang, 2021), but also suggest further research on the sources of these groups’ military effectiveness.…”

“…A nascent literature also considers how the presence of female combatants in rebel groups affects the behaviour of that group and conflict dynamics more generally. Rebel groups where women voluntarily participate may be more enduring and less likely to be defeated in civil war (Braithwaite and Ruiz, 2018; Giri and Haer, 2021; Wood and Allemang, 2021), while the presence of female combatants among rebels may be associated with decreased conflict-related sexual violence (Loken, 2017; Mehrl, 2020). Furthermore, a group of recent studies claims that the presence of women increases group legitimacy, and allows rebels to mobilize larger fighting forces, peacekeeping missions, and third-party support (Loken, 2021; Manekin and Wood, 2020; Mehrl and Dworschak, 2021; Wood, 2019).…”

Female rebels and United Nations peacekeeping deployments

“…At the same time, female rebel combatants may increase the probability of UN peacekeeping mission deployment through an alternative, indirect channel which pertains to how they affect the actual severity of the conflict they fight in. Existing research suggests that rebel groups including female combatants are able to mobilize larger fighting forces and are less likely to be defeated by the opposing government (Braithwaite and Ruiz, 2018; Giri and Haer, 2021; Wood, 2019; Wood and Allemang, 2021). At the same time, it points to a positive relationship between the use of terrorism and the recruitment of women (Thomas and Bond, 2015).…”

Exploring the Role of Female Combatants in Non-State Armed Groups: A Case Study of Baloch Liberation Army

“…Moreover, literature on the scholarship considers the change in the dynamics of a group and a conflict with the presence of female combatants. Armed groups where women participate voluntarily are more enduring while it also minimizes the chances of being defeated, especially in the context of armed civil conflicts (Braithwaite & Ruiz, 2018;Giri & Haer, 2021; R. M. Wood & Allemang, 2021). Also, the presence of female members in armed groups may decrease sexual violence associated with violent conflicts (Loken, 2015;Mehrl, 2022).…”